Subaru may have introduced the new sixth generation of the Forester in North America, but Japanese buyers have to settle for the existing model which has been around since 2018. The domestic-specification Forester gets minor model year updates for 2024, including the new STI Sport Black Interior Selection trim adopting an all-black theme for the cabin.

The SUV’s exterior remains unchanged since its last facelift in 2021. However, Subaru aims to maintain buyer interest with new trims and special editions. For the 2024 model year, the company introduces the Subaru Forester STI Sport Black Interior Selection special edition. Based on the existing STI Sport trim introduced in 2022, this edition features a darker interior, combining Nappa leather upholstery for the seats with silver stitching and piano black inserts.

 

Furthermore, the STI Sport Black Interior Selection can be combined with the exclusive Offshore Blue Metallic exterior color. Despite the associations of the STI Sport emblem, the model doesn’t get any power upgrades over lesser trims, producing the same 175 hp from its 1.8-liter turbocharged boxer engine. However, it does get a set of STI-tuned dampers, improving is handling credentials. Another highlight for the 2024 MY is the Geyser Blue shade which is exclusively available for the X-Edition and XT-Edition trims. This is the same color used on the US-spec Subaru Forester Wilderness, and was originally introduced in Japan with the XT-Edition in late 2022.

Both the X-Edition and the XT-Edition trims are equipped with water-repellent upholstery, a durable cargo floor cover, and black interior accents. The main difference is that the Forester X-Edition gets the 2.0-liter e-Boxer hybrid powertrain while the XT-Edition sports the more potent turbocharged 1.8-liter engine. All trims of the Forester come standard with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.

Pricing for the 2024 Subaru Forester in Japan starts from ¥ 3,069,000 (US$ 20,040). As for the special trims, the X-Edition starts from ¥ 3,377,000 (US$ 22,051), the XT-Edition from ¥ 3,432,000 (US$ 22,411), and the STI Sport Black Interior Selection from ¥ 3,850,000 (US$ 25,137). This might be the final model year for the fifth-generation Subaru Forester in the Japanese market. The updated sixth-gen model could be introduced for 2025, following its rollout in North America.